September, 2002, pilgrims

[Rosina Lila]

Hello you all,
During last September 8,822 pilgrims received the Compostela in Santiago by
virtue of walking, or horseback riding, the last 100 kms. or bicycling the
last 200 kms up to the Santiago Cathedral; the numbers represent a 15%
increase over the 7,641 pilgrims who did so in September of 2001.
969 of the pilgrims were over 60 years of  age, 4,779 were between 30 and 60
years old and 3,074 were under 30 years of age.
8,094 of the pilgrims professed a religious,  or religious-cultural,  reason
for doing the pilgrimage; 728 declared only a cultural motive.
The majority of the pilgrims, 4,936, were from Spain itself; the rest, 3,886,
hailed from other countries:  967 from Germany, 655 from France, 467 from
Brazil, 275 from Italy, 228 from the USA, 207 from Belgium, 197 from the
United Kingdom, 194 from Austria, 177 from Canada, 133 from Mexico,  and the
rest from various countries totaling 51 in all.
The largest number of pilgrims, 1,047,  began the pilgrimage in Sarria; 1,041
 started out in SJPP, 1,015 in Roncesvalles, 761 in Leon, 696 in Ponferrada,
613 in Cebreiro (including my soul-friends from Australia), 528 in Astorga
(they purchased nothing there but souvenirs from  the famed chocolate
museum), and the rest began their pilgrimage at various numerous sites not
only in Spain, but in Portugal and other countries as well.
The French Way (Camino Frances) was followed  by 8,124 of the pilgrims; 275
walked the Portuguese way; the Northern way was followed by 224 pilgrims; 181
followed the Silver Way from Andalucia and 18 kept to the English Way.

*****Personal note:  if the numbers don't add up, blame it on the "Correo de
Galicia" newspaper.  The remarks in parenthesis are wholly mine.  The
Australian pilgrims that started out at O Cebreiro, and, back home, Bob
Spender, will understand. I just couldn't resist  the personal indulgence.
.... High time for me to go back to the Camino, methinks.
Again, a caveat: those pilgrims who did qualify for the Compostela do not, in
the leastest  least, represent the number of all Santiago pilgrims. To
paraphrase the Gospel ("many are called, few are chosen"), many walkers,
horseback riders, bicyclists, try, but few make it, or care to.
Warm regards to all.
Rosina